|
It was director Raghavendra Rao who introduced the concept of commercial cinema to Tollywood. He had not been speaking to the media or in movie
functions and has been on a mouna vrath for a long time now. At last he opened his mouth and interacted with directors B Gopal, Rajamouli and
others who worked as his associates in the past and clarified their doubts during the platinum jubilee celebrations (Vajrotsavas) of Telugu cinema.
When he was asked how he could show heroines glamourously, the director said he used to notice weak points in the heroines and would try to
cover those. Obviously, she turns out to be glamorous, he clarified. Flowers and fruits are the hallmark of Ragavendra Rao movies. Heroines are
shown being showered with flowers and fruits in most of his films. In contrast, he directed spiritual marvels like 'Annamayya' and 'Sri Ramadasu' too.
When asked how they should take the director, he replied with a smile that spiritual films happened as he matures with age and there was nothing
more than that. The director said, "I am speaking now because my varasulu (heirs) will listen to me during the 100th year celebrations of Telugu
cinema." Anyhow, it was some kind of amusement for the media to have the director speaking.
Bad time for bickering
The three-day Vajrotsavas, which concluded on January 28, brought to the fore differences among the film fraternity. Mohan Babu criticised the
organisers saying that many of the seniors in the industry had not been invited for the mega event. While many veterans like Krishna, Vijayanirmala
and Krishnam Raju were legends in their own right but were left out, why this legendary award only to one individual (referring to Chiranjeevi), he
questioned. And Chiranjeevi smoothly refused to accept the award given. "I can’t accept the award as there are many artistes among us who
deserve the award. Maybe after 25 years I may deserve the award and may accept then," he said. If there are any differences in a family they have
to be settled among themselves and should not be made public. In the same way, differences in the film fraternity have to be resolved among
ourselves and shouldn’t be dragged on to the stage, said an emotional Chiranjeevi. This function is a thanksgiving function to 'Telugu Cine
Kalamathalli' for giving us status and popularity. We should be united as one. When I visited Goa Film Festival I didn’t see the photographs of NTR
and ANR under the list of legends of Indian cinema. We must show what Telugu cinema is to those sitting in New Delhi, said the emotional megastar.
However, the media gave wide publicity to the platinum jubilee celebrations. It described the late NTR and ANR as two eyes of Telugu cinema. TV
channels telecast the life history of Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Megastar Chiranjeevi hailing them as legends. The good sign was all the top actors,
Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Balakrishna, Pawan Kalyan were seen together enjoying the celebrations which reflected the unity of the film fraternity.
Becoming more service-oriented
"I was told that the Padmasri award I have received from the Government of India, was long overdue. But my philosophy is 'Edi eppudu ravalo appude
vastundi' (anything comes at the right moment only)" said Mohan
Babu in his trademark style. "This award has increased my responsibility towards society. It doesn’t
mean that I was not sensitive to societal problems in the past. I have been offering 25 per cent education for free for economically poor and
meritorious students." He has acted in over 500 films in his career spanning over 32 years. He has produced 47 films under his own banner Lakshmi
Prasanna. He has not been acting in films outside his banner for a long time now since 'Annamayya'. The actor opines that discipline is declining in
the industry and cost of film-making has been on the rise. Now the actor is playing Yama in director Rajamouli's 'Yamadonga'. In view of the changing
strategy we can hope that at least now the actor tastes success.
Balakrishna reminds one of NTR
Actors Balakrishna, AVS and Nagababu impressed the audience in their pauranic roles as Suyodhana, Sakuni and Ghatotkacha. Balakrishna reminded
one of his father late NTR while delivering dialogues as Suyodhana. The actor's latest film 'Maharadhi' is all set to be released on February 1. The film
has Sneha and Meera Jasmine as heroines. Jayaprada is appearing in a key role. The film's producer Wakada Apparao said the movie will be a
milestone in Balakrishna's career. P Vasu of Chandramukhi fame is the director of the film. The film has music scored by Guru
Kiran.
One common friend
Though Mohan Babu bursts out whenever he get a chance against Chiranjeevi, the fact is both are close to 'Darsaka Ratna' and Union Minister Dasari
Narayana Rao. It is Dasari who took care of Mohan Babu from the beginning and changed his name from Bhaktavatsalam Naidu to the present Mohan
Babu. Chiranjeevi mentioned that Dasari was related to him as a grandfather at a film function. Though both share good relations with Dasari, they
are not comfortable with each other, in particular it appears Mohan Babu is not comfortable with Chiranjeevi.
P Haribabu
|
Raghavendra Rao opens up
